Veronica Mars meets William Shakespeare in E.K. Johnston’s latest brave and unforgettable heroine.
Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don’t cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. The team’s summer training camp is Hermione’s last and marks the beginning of the end of…she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.
In every class, there’s a star cheerleader and a pariah pregnant girl. They’re never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she’s always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The assault wasn’t the beginning of Hermione Winter’s story and she’s not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale.
I finished Exit, Pursued by a Bear a few days ago but I haven’t been able to properly put my thoughts into words. I still can’t really do that but I’m going to try.
Trigger warning: As noted in the synopsis, this book deals with rape and teen pregnancy. If those aren’t things you can handle reading about, this book is not for you.
Pros:
Overall, Exit, Pursued by a Bear is going to the top of my highly recommended list. I know my review doesn’t even come close to doing it justice but take my word, you should read it.
Overall reaction:
What others are saying about Exit, Pursued by a Bear:
The Book Wars’ review: “In Exit, Pursued by a Bear, we see how the truth loses none of its potency when surrounded by people who are willing to trust in it. Highly, highly recommended!”
Pretty Deadly Reviews’ review: “This is a very different, very uplifting story about a girl coming to terms with being raped, and it is a necessary voice in a world telling girls they don’t own themselves.”